Upanishads · Mahā 6.76
॥
Devanāgarī
तमेव भुक्तिविरसं व्यापारौघं पुनः पुनः दिवसेदिवसे कुर्वन्प्राज्ञ कस्मान्न लज्जते
Transliteration (IAST)
tameva bhuktivirasaṃ vyāpāraughaṃ punaḥ punaḥ divasedivase kurvanprājña kasmānna lajjate
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
तम् एव भुक्ति-विरसम्tam eva bhukti-virasamthat same one, savourless from enjoyment; the very same, made insipid by long tasting
व्यापार-ओघम् पुनः पुनःvyāpāra-ogham punaḥ punaḥthe flood of occupations, again and again; the stream of busyness, over and over
दिवसे-दिवसे कुर्वन्divase-divase kurvanperforming day after day; carrying out day upon day
प्राज्ञ कस्मात् न लज्जतेprājña kasmāt na lajjateO wise one, why is he not ashamed; O discerning one, wherefore does he feel no shame
Translation
“Repeating day after day that same flood of occupations, grown savourless from long tasting — why is he not ashamed, O wise one?”
Version
a3352a81dc82 · published Jul 29, 2026, 6:29:20 AM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
The book's last reproach, and it strikes the sorest spot.
Bhukti-virasa — “grown savourless from tasting”. The affairs that long ago ceased to gladden.
Divase-divase — “day after day”, with the doubling.
And the question: kasmān na lajjate — “why is he not ashamed?”
Note the choice of feeling. Not “why does he not suffer” and not “why does he not fear”, but precisely — not ashamed.
Shame presupposes that a man knows how things should be and does otherwise. To anyone else one may be lenient; to oneself who knows — no.
The address prājña — “wise” — sharpens the reproach. It is not said to an ignoramus.
This is the last place where the teacher raises his voice; from here on come only the summings-up.